These materials were compiled by Marion Gould, secretary to 3M presidents Carlton, Buetow and Heltzer. For many years Gould gathered historical materials, company publications, memos and minutes, then added her own historical sketches and arranged them in notebook form under these four main subject headings for reference purposes. The materials and their organization provide extensive background information on 3M organization, administration, product lines, programs and employees. Although the materials have been removed from the notebooks and placed in folders, the original filing arrangement of each of the four sets has been retained.

These are alphabetical files concerning executives, board members and other notable 3M employees. They contain obituaries and other clippings, photos, vitae, press releases, memos, articles from 3M publications, professional papers and talks, and other information on employees' careers with the company. These files consist mainly of what were known as the "retired executive bio files," and the "deceased executive bio files" created by the 3M Public Relations office. The "officers" notebooks and "former officers" notebooks compiled by Marion Gould, along with other miscellaneous biographical materials were added to form one alphabetical file on 3M executives. The files contain significant information on, but are not limited to, the following named executives:

Miscellaneous biographical materials of select 3M executives or company notables including photographs, personal memorabilia, audio and video recordings. There is a significant amount of materials for William McKnight including photos both business and personal, articles, obituaries and audio recordings.

Files on 3M properties, buildings, facilities mainly in St. Paul and Maplewood but also including other parts of Minnesota and the United States. Files contain photographs, clippings, press releases and other materials.

There are two different stockholders ledgers for the period of 1928-1925 and they each list a separate alphabetic set of stockholders. It is not clear why two separate stockholders ledgers exist.

The arrangement and structure of the organizational charts reflects the organization of 3M in 1985. They depict the organization of the company from a top management overview to the managerial level of each division. Older charts show the origins and changes over time of each division and overall organizational evolution. In addition to company finance, administration, technology services, the four business sectors and International Operations, there are files of charts for "obsolete divisions." Apparently these are subsidiaries or divisions that were discontinued or absorbed into the operations of other divisions.

Balance sheets for 1941-1960 include subsidiaries for the following dates: American Lava Corp. (1953-1960), Big Rock Stone and Material Co. (1951-1960), Empire Advertising Co. (1948), Hartford City Paper Co. (1955-1958), Inland Rubber Corp. (1944-1948), Insulation and Wires Inc. (1956-1960), Irvington Varnish and Insulator Co. (1954-1955), Magna Crest Sales Inc. (1955), Mica Insulator Co. (1955-1957), Micanite Canada Ltd. (1955-1958), Midcontinent Chemical Co. (1955-1956), Midland Rubber Corp. (1951-1955), Mid-States Gummed Paper Co. (1944-1948, 1951-1957), Minco Corp. (1954-1960), Mutual Broadcasting System Inc. (1960), National Advertising Co. (1947-1948, 1951-1960), National Synthetic Rubber Corp. (1947-1948, 1951-1960), Prehler Electrical Insulation Co. (1956-1960), Revere Camera Co. (1960), Salisbury Cruises Ltd. (1954-1960), Samica Corp. (1955-1960), Thermo-Fax Sales Inc. (1956-1960), Wonewok Lodge Inc. (1955-1960), Zenith Plastics Co. (1956-1960).

The executive management materials include miscellaneous files on business plans and reorganization of the company as well as files on various executive meetings including audio recordings of the meetings.

Personnel and Human Resources materials include information on various staff benefits, including the employee stock purchase plan. There is also information on education and training of staff as well as company library, commuter van and other staff services. Files of Lyle Fisher, Personnel Director, contain memos, correspondence, reports and other materials on staff benefits and services from the 1930s through the 1960s. There are also miscellaneous audio recordings relating to staff benefits and services.

Materials include photos, audio and video recordings, clippings and miscellaneous items relating to the 3M Club, employee sports teams, music and other interest groups, as well as various employee award programs.

Reports, articles, photos and other information on the 3M Foundation, art collections and Science Museum contributions.

Files include departmental history and reports and histories compiled by the Public Relations Department of the 3M divisions and of the 3M employee publications. Publications, both domestic and foreign for 3M employees and for a general audience are included. Most of these publications are shelved within the Library Collections of the Minnesota Historical Society. There are also newspaper clippings relating to 3M and microfiche copies of various 3M executives speeches. Public Relations project and subject files contain memos, correspondence, reports, photos, articles, press releases and relate to various projects and programs including the history of the company, the 3M archives, anniversary celebrations and other various publicity efforts. The company anniversary files include company history, employee and executive interviews and reminiscences, photos, audio and video recordings and information on celebration events. Employee service awards files include photos and programs. There are also miscellaneous video recordings on 3M company produced by Public Relations.

Records of miscellaneous 3M subsidiary companies. Other subsidiary companies that relate directly to a product line are included in those product materials.

Miscellaneous records of 3M's International Operations including photos, brochures, publications and other information on various foreign plants.

The Technical Policy Board was established in 1939 to promote cooperation, communication and technical productivity between the various laboratories throughout the company. It held membership meetings and heard problems and complaints of the 3M technical community. The 3M Technical Forum was formed in 1952 by 3M scientists as an outgrowth of the older Technical Policy Board. The Forum was designed for the purpose of encouraging a free and active interchange of information and the cross-fertilization of ideas among all company technical workers. It distributed information bulletins and regularly sponsored educational programs. Annual dinners of technical workers were held and the various technical departments shared product displays.

Including materials of Minnesota Abrasives Company, Baeder-Adamson Company and Durex Abrasives Corporation. Minnesota Abrasives Company was formed in 1901, one year previous to 3M although it never got off the ground because of financial troubles. It was purchased in 1902 by 3M but because 3M didn't have cash to pay for the transaction, it traded stock and issued additional 3M stock for its debts. The Minnesota Abrasives materials mainly relate to the transfer of stock in 1902. Baeder-Adamson Company of Philadelphia was the oldest sandpaper manufacturer in the U.S. and a 3M competitor when 3M purchased it in 1930. There are only a few miscellaneous trademark documents for Baeder-Adamson. The Durex Abrasives Corporation was formed in the late 1920s by nine abrasives manufacturers including 3M, for the purpose of selling products overseas while retaining patent rights for their products. Durex materials include mainly accounting records with a few 3M-Durex product brochures.

Consisting of product brochures, promotional literature, sandpaper samples, mailings with cover letter, product catalogs, price change lists, magazines reprints and other product advertisements.

Consisting of black and white prints of a predominantly promotional nature with some interior plant views, but mainly showing products in various uses, product packaging and retail displays.

Including miscellaneous sales tabulations and reports and minutes of sales minutes.

In about 1941, 3M purchased Inland Rubber Company to supply natural rubber that, in short supply during World War II, was necessary for making the adhesives for pressure sensitive tapes. Even with this acquisition, rubber was in short supply, so 3M joined with four other companies to form the National Synthetic Rubber Corporation for the purpose of operating a government owned synthetic rubber plant in Louisville, Kentucky.

These materials include files of Charles O. Moosbrugger, Sales Manager and Roger F. How. The advertising copy includes stories on the history of Scotch Tape, how tape is made, uses during World War II both in military service and on the homefront, and the return to abundant production following the war.

Mailings, product catalogues, price change lists, promotional display materials, product samples, magazines reprints and other product advertisements, technical bulletins and point of sale advertising items. Oversize brochures, flyers and advertisement reprints from a 1945 advertising scrapbook dismantled for conservation purposes.

Films consist almost entirely of television commercials for Scotch Tape, but also include gift tape, Sasheen ribbon, plastic and masking tape and Scotch hair set tape. These 16mm films have been copied and BetaSP video cassette as well as user VHS video cassette copies are included with the film rolls.

Including predominantly early patent and trademark documents. There are also balance sheets and a few miscellaneous financial and stockholders documents. Mica Insulator Company was an electrical insulator manufacturer which traced its origins to the 1890s and held patents in several countries including the United States, England, Germany, France, Canada, India, Austria and Switzerland. 3M Company purchased it sometime in the late 1950s and it became Mica Insulator Company, a Division of Minnesota Mining and Manufacturing. Only the audit related documents from 1958-1960 date from the period of 3M's involvement with the company.

Records include board of directors meeting minutes, stock transfer books and sales account books. Sometime in the 1950s, 3M acquired Irvington Varnish and Insulator Company of Irvington, New Jersey and American Lava Corporation of Chattanooga, Tennessee to broaden its production in electronics. These two subsidiaries became part of 3M's Electrical Products Division. All of the Irvington Varnish records predate the purchase of the company by 3M.

Including reports and product information for roofing granules, surfacing and sandblast stencil products.

Including advertisements, mailings, product literature, catalogs, photos, press releases and clippings, promotional films, audio and video recordings for a variety of products including coatings, surfacing, roofing granules, electrical, oil sorbents, fire suppressant and other products specifically for the construction, space and research industries.

Relating to industrial mineral, electrical, and nuclear and space products.

Including mailings with cover letters, product catalogs, price lists, advertisements and promotional literature for products used in the automotive industry.

Also includes minutes and other information relating to 3M acquisition, Dynacolor Corporation.

Product catalogs, brochures, promotional photos, one promotional film and other promotional materials for 3M's Thermo-Fax copier, background music systems, microfilm readers and printers, overhead projectors and facsimile machines. Also included are technical bulletins and specifications for various copying products.

Sales company record books, materials on sales promotional programs and sales staff magazines and newspapers for copying products of the Duplicating Products Division, Graphic Systems Group, and Visual Products Group of 3M.

Includes mailings, price lists, product catalogues, brochures and other advertisements, technical bulletins and promotional literature for magnetic recording tape, video tape, recorders, videodisc and computer storage media.

For 3M products including audio tape, video tape, Wollensak recorders and Revere Tape Cartridge player.

Black and white photographs of a predominantly promotional nature.